Posts Tagged Cuisine: American

Positively 4th Street

Jun 13

A chalkboard outside of Positively 4th Street reads “Best Burger in Town”. If you’re going to make that proclamation only 10 yards from the entrance to a Five Guys, you had better be legit, right? Hamburgers occupy a special spot in the hearts of American diners. A well-constructed, perfectly cooked hamburger is a thing of beauty and is not to be messed with.

Upon settling in and evaluating the bill of fare at Positively 4th St, my hopes were high. The menu reads incredibly well (especially the burgers). Each selection is American comfort food at heart, but with a creative twist that entices and… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: American, Neighborhood: Downtown, Outdoor Seating, Rating: 2 stars, Restaurant: Positively 4th Street

The Batesville Store

Nov 30

Posted by Jed in Food Finds | 6 Comments

When I was young, I was infatuated with a Spielberg-produced TV show called “Amazing Stories.” One episode was about an artistic ball turret gunner whose quaintly captivating drawings had a way of coming to life. I’m pretty sure he didn’t do any sketches of small-town restaurant-stores in rural Virginia, but if he had, they might have featured The Batesville Store.

If you’ve never heard of Batesville, it’s where you end up if you drive past the old Albemarle County Fair location on Plank Road, just off 29 South. You can’t miss it. It’s as if the tiny town of Batesville exists only to support the store… Read More

Tags: Cuisine: American, Neighborhood: Batesville, Restaurant: The Batesville Store

Biscuits and Gravy at l’etoile

Nov 12

Posted by Erin in Food Finds | 2 Comments

We recently asked for Facebook opinions on the best biscuits in town and were shocked by the responses. Bluegrass Grill & Bakery was the leader, although there was a strong anti-whole wheat contingent that disputed this pick. And the runner-up? Hardee’s. Seriously. I took it as a sign that we need better biscuits in this town, but after a Sunday brunch at l’etoile I think we’re doing just fine.

There are two options to enjoy the delicious biscuits with sausage gravy at l’etoile: a stand-alone starter biscuit ($6) or a mini pair of biscuits that’s part of the Star Breakfast ($10), where you can enjoy them with eggs any… Read More

Tags: Brunch, Charlottesville, Cuisine: American, Neighborhood: Main Street, Restaurant: l'etoile

The Double Bratoberfest at The Nook

Oct 15

Posted by Jed in Food Finds | 3 Comments

It’s almost impossible for me to pass up brats when I see them on a menu or in a cart, especially at sporting events or anytime in the month of October. But I wasn’t sure I had ordered wisely (sorry, Snooki) when I saw these two meat-pops land under my nose.

How mistaken I was. Not only was it a wise decision but it was real smart too. Beer-soaked sausage with sweet braised onions atop a couple of stripes of mustard on a potato roll, with kettle chips on the side? Huzzah! Great texture, strong beer flavor, extra soft roll, everything just right.

For all you sausage-eating types… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: American, Cuisine: German, Neighborhood: Downtown, Restaurant: The Nook

Brookville

Aug 25

Posted by Erin in Reviews | 11 Comments

There’s an exciting restaurant newcomer in town that’s upped the ante on the local food scene. We’ve only had one meal at Brookville, but it was a delicious, memorable dinner that celebrated the best this season and area has to offer.

Brookville is located in the former Upstairs/Al Dente space above Escafé. It’s more out of the way than other mall spots that easily attract passersby, so I hope the spot won’t be tough for them. It’s a welcoming space that was far too empty for the delicious meal we were about to have. The entry room includes a large bar, exposed brick walls, bookshelves filled with cookbooks to thumb through, and a communal table… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: American, Cuisine: Local, Neighborhood: Downtown, Rating: 5 stars, Restaurant: Brookville

The Downtown Hotdog Company

Aug 15

Posted by Jed in Reviews | 3 Comments

Ah, the hot dog. Baseball and barbecue staple, street minute-meal for the suddenly starved. Proud poster child of American no-nonsense-ness, butt of mystery meat and wiener jokes.

Or so it was. The arrival of The Downtown Hotdog Company, along with such international crazes as Japadog, heralds a new era of thinking about and eating hot dogs. No longer content to be monopolized by Oscar Meyer or confined to white buns, Heinz ketchup, French’s mustard, and maybe some diced onions or pickle relish, the noble wiener is going gourmet.

At the Downtown Hotdog Company, you can pick from a dozen arrangements – including such stand-outs as “The Dragon” with… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: American, Neighborhood: Downtown, Rating: 3 stars, Restaurant: The Downtown Hotdog Co.

Sweet Frog

Aug 9

Posted by Erin in Food Finds | 8 Comments

There have been signs that I’m rapidly developing a problem. It started out innocently enough when I heard that Sweet Frog, the new self-serve yogurt place on the downtown mall, was about to open. I began thinking about it an awful lot, thanks to a pre-existing addiction to Pinkberry, the original California-based yogurt trend. After its opening last week, I grew slightly concerned when I visited Sweet Frog three times in 38 hours. And I was downright embarrassed when I ate it so quickly last night that I developed the hiccups. So I may have a problem – but it’s a delicious one.

Sweet Frog (next door to Escafé) has ten yogurt… Read More

Tags: Cuisine: American, Dessert, Neighborhood: Downtown, Restaurant: Sweet Frog

Brat Pizza at Blue Mountain Brewery

Jun 7

Posted by Jed in Food Finds | 7 Comments

When we last visited Blue Mountain Brewery, we made the mistake of ordering only beer. We thought the food, though more creative than expected, was there for no other reason than to anchor the beer drinking. How naive we were!

Though our waiter eagerly pointed out the veggie pizza as his favorite item on the menu, we were inexorably drawn again and again to the brat pizza. We both spent a good chunk of our formative years in the mid-west, so sausage rarely gets past us uneaten, especially if it has wurst in its name. Besides, pizza with apples, balsamic… Read More

Tags: Charlottesville, Cuisine: American, Cuisine: Italian, Neighborhood: Afton, Restaurant: Blue Mountain Brewery

Blue Moon Diner Brunch

Apr 25

Posted by Erin in Reviews | 12 Comments

I haven’t been looking forward to writing this review since a few friends told me that Blue Moon Diner was their favorite place in town, and then menacingly asked if we had reviewed it yet. So as fair warning: in the ancient blue brunch battle of Charlottesville, my loyalties lie with the Bluegrass Grill. Sorry Team Blue Moon – I know there are many of you – and you may want to stop reading now.

There is good food to eat and good things to say about the Blue Moon Diner on West Main. The ingredients are local and fresh, the coffee mugs… Read More

Tags: Brunch, Charlottesville, Cuisine: American, Neighborhood: Main Street, Restaurant: Blue Moon Diner

Black & White Cookies at Penne Lane

Apr 19

Posted by Jed in Food Finds | 5 Comments

So, I was sitting there eating this black and white cookie, talking to my girl, when I stopped mid-sentence and was like, “Holy crap, dude. This cookie is outrageously delicious!” That’s when she looked up at me with those wild, sugar-crazed tiger eyes of hers and said, “No way your cookie is as good as my macaroon. This coconut is off the hook, yo! Moist and crispy all at once!” Then we jumped on our horses and chased each other around and around the block, yippeeing and yee-hawing all the way. In the end I caught up to her and… Read More